Latch construction



Jan. 15, w O BURKE LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed May 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Jan. 15, W. o BURKE LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed May 18, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent LATCH CONSTRUCTION William O. Burke,Rockford, 111., assignor to National Lock Company, Rockford, Ill., acorporation of Delaware Application May 18, 1954, Serial No. 430,476

4'Claims. (Cl. 292-332) The present invention relates to a novel latchconstruction for a refrigerator lock whereby to facilitate closing andeffectively latching and sealing the door of a refrigerator cabinet.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel doorlatch assembly carried by the door or closure of a refrigerator cabinetand adapted to have latching engagement with a keeper on the cabinet,and when moved into latching engagement applies a positive closingpressure that efiectively compresses the sealing gasket carried on theinner periphery of the door and maintains this sealing pressure whilethe door remains closed.

To efifect positive and adequate sealing about the door or closure of arefrigerator cabinet, the present novel latch construction holds thedoor tightly closed under pressure and thereby holds and maintains thegasket about the door opening under compression. This latching isaccomplished without slamming or supplying external pressure to the doorfor the novel latch construction supplies the closing and sealingpressure as the latch is tripped and retains this pressure so long asthe door remains latched.

In the novel disclosed embodiment, the latch bolt when tripped uponclosing of the door, engages the keeper or strike and positively drawsthe door into tight sealing engagement with the cabinet. Thus theoperator is assured of an ultimate closing and sealing pressure appliedto the gasket each time the door is moved to closed position and thelatch bolt is tripped. This greatly reduces the manual effort requiredto move the door to its latched position, and eliminates all necessityfor slamming the door in order to eifect latching and sealingengagement.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novellatch assembly for the door of a refrigerator or other cabinet of thetype in which the space between the adjacent edges of the door and thecabinet is sealed by a compressible gasket, including a noveltogglearrangement for positively controlling the actuation and operationof the latch bolt and automatically supplying the pressure required foreffective sealing.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a noveltoggle-actuated latch bolt assembly of simplified construction andoperation for latching the door of a refrigerator cabinet and the like,and requiring but a relatively light spring for supplying the forcerequired for compressing the sealing gasket and maintaining it undereffective sealing pressure when the door is moved to its closedposition. By this novel construction and assembly, there is provided alatch mechanism that permits easy closing of the door and operation ofthe latch mechanism with a minimum of manual effort.

The present invention further resides in the construc tion, combinationand arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andwhile there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to beunderstood that the same is susceptible of modification and change,

2,777,722 Patented Jan. 15, 1957 and comprehends other details,arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator in which is embodiedthe novel latch construction or assembly.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view in horizontal cross sectionthrough the novel latch assembly and the mounting therefor in the doorof the refrigerator, the view showing the door closed and the latch boltin engaged and latched position with the keeper or strike on thecabinet.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view in horizontal cross sectionsimilar to Fig. 2, but with the latch mechanism in unlatched or unlockedposition and showing the latch bolt about to be tripped into latchingengagement with the keeper or strike as the door is being moved toclosed position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 but showing the position ofthe latch bolt and its associated parts as the door is being opened andthe latching end of the latch bolt is about to leave the keeper orstrike on the cabinet.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the latch handle andshowing in dotted outline the manner in which the latch mechanism istripped by the handle to open the door.

Fig. 6 is a view in rear elevation of the latch assembly in the door ofthe refrigerator, the view being taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 andviewed in the direction of the arrows and showing the parts in latchedposition when the door is closed.

Referring to the disclosure in the drawings and more particularly to thenovel illustrative embodiment therein shown, the disclosed latchassembly is shown mounted in a refrigerator door 10 for latchingengagement with a keeper or strike assembly 11 on a refrigerator cabinet12. For sealing the interior of the cabinet and the dividing spacebetween the edge of the door and the cabinet when the door is closed, acompressible sealing gasket 13 is shown mounted on the edge of the door10 adapted to have sealing contact with the adjacent face of edge 14 ofthe cabinet 12. This door 10 is hinged for opening and swinging movementalong its vertical edge 15.

The keeper assembly designated generally by the reference character 11,comprises a U-shaped bracket 16 having its base 17 mounted in an ofisetat 18 in the side jamb 19 of the cabinet 12. Bridging the outwardlyprojecting ends of the sides or walls 20 of the bracket 16 is a pin 21and a roller 22 providing a strike or keeper adapted to be engaged by alatch bolt 23 of the latch mechanism carried in the door 10 adjacent oneedge 24 thereof. The forward end of the keeper bracket 16 and its rolleror keeper 22 project beyond the face or forward edge 25 of the cabinet12 and are adapted to enter and be received Within an opening 26 in therear wall 27 of the door 10, when the door is moved to closed position.

The door latch assembly is mounted within the door 10 upon asubstantially U-shaped bracket or housing 28 having its base 29 anchoredto the interior of the outer wall 31 of the door by bolts or othersecuring means 32 projecting through opposed outwardly extendingflanges, ears or projections 33, and at its inner end the spaced sides34 of the bracket 28 are anchored to the inturned flange 35 on the rearor inner wall 27 of the door by means of oppositely extending ears orprojections 36 receiving anchoring bolts or other securing means 32.

Mounted within the bracket 28 is the latch or lock 7 bolt 23 having ahooked latching end 37 and a spaced projection or trip 38 extendingbeyond the end 37 and defining a relatively deep slot or recess 39therebetween for receiving and latching onto the roller or keeper 22 asthe door 19 is moved toward closed position and retaining the doorlatched and sealed when closed. The latch or lock be t 23 is providedadjacent one end with a hub pivotally or rotatably mounted upon atransverse or cross pin ll bridging and anchored in the spaced sides 34of the housing or bracket 23. intermediate its ends the latch bolt 23 isprovided with a laterally extending arm or projection 42 connectedadjacent its outer end by a transverse pin 43 to adjacent one end of thespaced sides 44 of a toggle link do".

The toggle link 45 is of substantially channel or U-shape with itsspaced sides joined by a base or connecting web 46, and is carried andpivotally mounted on a pin or rivet 47 Within and between the spacedsides 48 of an operating lever 49 also of substantially U-shape. Thisoperating lever adjacent its base 54} is pivotally and rotatably mountedWithin the'housing or bracket 28 upon a cross or transverse pin 51having its ends anchored in the side walls 34 of the housing or bracket28 and with the spaced sides 4-8 of the operating lever 49 held inspaced relation with the adjacent sides 34 of the housing by spacers orwashers S2.

The transverse pin 43 projects through aligned arcuate slots 53 one ineach side 48 of the operating lever 49, through tie spaced sides d4 ofthe toggle link 45 and through the arm or projection 42 of the latchbolt 23 disposed within the toggle link, with the ends of the pin 43projecting through the arcuate slots 53. The opposite sides -524 of theoperating lever 49 are notched at and provided with anchoringprojections or lugs 55 to receive and anchor one end of a coil orcompression spring 56, the other end of this spring encompassing anannular collar or embossment 57 on a transverse or cross member 58ah'ixed to the housing or bracket 23.

A lift spring 59 is wrapped about the hub 49 on the latch bolt 23 and atone end 61 engages the underside of the latch bolt with the other end 62of the spring 59 V anchored to an inturned tongue es on a side wall 34of the housing or bracket 28, whereby to spring-bias the latch bolt 23in a clockwise direction to elevated or cocked position as shown in Fig.3. in this cocked position, the pin 43 is elevated to the upper end ofthe slots 53 with this pin disposed above a line A intersecting the pinor rivet 47 on which the toggle link 45' is pivotally connected to theoperating lever 49, and the cross pin 41 on which the latch bolt 23 isrotatably or pivotally mounted in the housing or bracket 28. Thus thelatch bolt 23 is held in cocked position but ready to be tripped uponclosing the door.

As the door 11 is moved toward closed position (Fig. 3), the roller orkeeper 22 is engaged by the lower projection or trip 33 on the latchbolt to depress and rotate the latch bolt in a counter-clockwisedirection, whereby the toggle pin 43 is moved downwardly along thearcuate slots away from the position shown in Fig. 3. As the toggle pin43 passes below a line connecting the pin or rivet 47 and the pivot pin-ll'for the latch bolt 23, spring pressure of the relatively heavy coilspring 56 is released or relieved, causing the operating lever 49 topivot or rotate in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin SI. and thetoggle link 45 to also pivot or rotate in a clockwise direction aboutits pivot pin d7 whereupon the latch bolt 23 is rotated in acounter-clockwise direction to locked position (Fig. 2).

A handle he is provided to permit unlatching and opening of the door it}from its locked or latched position (Fig. 2). This handle is pivotallymounted adjacent its one end 65 on a pin es in a bracket 67 secured tothe exterior of the door it? by screws, bolts or other attaching means68. The-end d5 of the operating handle 64 is so contoured as to engageor abut the enlarged head or end 69 of a plunger "in, the latter beingslidably mounted in a stationary or fixed collar or embossment 71. Thusthe end of the handle is adapted to depress .or force inwardly thisplunger with its inner end 72 engaging the base 59' of the operatinglever 49, whenever the free end 73 of the operating handle is pulledoutwardly by the operator for opening the door. As the handle is-pulledupon to open the door (see Fig. 4), the end 72 of the plunger 7% whichbears against the base 50, pivots or rotates the operating lever 4-9 ina counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 51 and against the forceof the coil spring 56. Such pivotal movement of the operating lever 49also moves therewith the toggle link 45 which is pinned thereto at 47,whereby the toggle pin 43 is moved upwardly or inwardly toward the upperor inner end of the arcuate slots 53 and when the toggle pin reaches theupper or inner end of the slots it passes the line A, connecting theaxis of the pin or rivet 47 pivotally mounting the toggle link to theoperating lever 4 and the cross pin 4-1 on which the latch bolt 23 ispivotally mounted, and the latch bolt 23 is rotated or moved in aclockwise direction to fully open position by the bolt lift spring 59.In this position the latch bolt 23 is held and remains cocked until thedoor it? is again moved toward closed position and tripped. I

Actuation of the latch bolt 23 requires but little pressure or force onthe projection or trip 38 and elfects reversed over-center movement ofthe toggle whereby to throw the toggle from its extended position inwhich-the toggle link 4-5 is in substantial alignment with the arm orextension $2 on the latch bolt 23 (Fig. 3), and rotate the latch bolt tolatching position (Fig. 2). The novel arrangement and location of theparts is such that the force of the spring 56 is greatly multiplied asthe latch bolt 23 is rotated to latching position and the gasket 13 iscompressed and retained compressed to effectively seal the space ordividing line between the door and cabinet.

When the door is closed it is securely and positively latched andretained in closed and sealed position by the novel toggle and springarrangement and cannot be opened except by movement or" the latch handle64 which effects reverse movement of the toggle arrange ment. In theclosing of the door from its cocked position (Pig. 3), the toggle pin3-3 is required to be moved but a relatively short distance toover-centerposition and the spring 56 compressed but slightly, so thatbut slight pressure is required in closing the door to move the togglepin 43 past the line A whereupon the spring 56 moves the latch bolt 23to latched position with a snap action.

I Having thus disclosed the invention, 1 claim: 7

1. In a latch construction having latch mechanism carried by a door forlatching engagement with a keeper on the cabinet, said latch mechanismcomprising a support on the door housing the latch mechanism, a latchbolt pivotally mounted adjacent one end in the support for rotationabout a' fixed axis at its other end provided with a hooked latching endand a trip member spaced from the latching end for tripping the latchbolt, a lateral projection intermediate the ends of said latch bolt, anoperating lever pivotally mounted adjacent one end in the support andprovided with an arcuate slot, adjacent its other end, a toggle linkpivotally mounted at one end on the operating lever with its other endprovided with and carrying a pin extending through the projection on thelatch bolt and into the arcuate slot whereby the latch bolt is pivotallyconnected to the other end of the toggle link but the latter isswingably mounted relative to the operating lever and latch bolt, meansfor moving said operating lever and toggle link with the toggle pin inthe slot whereby when the toggle pin is moved'to a position in one endof the slot beyond a line connecting the pivotal axes of the mounting ofthe toggle link on the operating lever and the pivotal mounting of thelatch bolt in the support, the latch bolt is tripped to latch positionand when the toggle pin is moved into the opposite end of the slot andin a position beyond said line and in which position the toggle link andprojection on the latch bolt are in substantial alignment, the latchbolt is moved to and held in cocked position, a compression springbearing against the operating member adjacent its other end forspringbiasing the operating lever in one direction for moving the latchbolt into latched position, and means for spring-biasing the latch boltin the other direction for moving the latch bolt when released tounlatched, cocked position.

2. A latch assembly comprising a latch member adapted to be moved intoand out of latching engagement with a keeper, a housing member for thelatch assembly, means for pivotally mounting the latch member upon afixed axis in said housing, means for spring-biasing the latch member tounlatched, cocked position, an operating member also pivotally mountedin the housing, a toggle joint connecting the operating member to thelatch member and spaced from the pivotal mounting of said operatingmember and said latch member in said housing, said toggle jointconsisting of a link pivotally connected at one end to and carried bythe operating member, a toggle pin carried by the other end of thetoggle link and connecting this end to the latch member, an arcuate slotin the operating member permitting this toggle pin and adjacent end ofthe toggle link to pivot and be guided in the slot as the latch memberrotates about its fixed axis and relative to the operating member, meansfor rotating the operating member in one direction to move the togglelink and its pin in the slot in one direction and the latter in turnmove the latch member to unlatched, cocked position, and a compressionspring hearing at one end against the housing member and at its otherend engaging the operating member for rotating the operating member inthe opposite direction when the unlatched and cocked latch member istripped, whereupon the toggle link and pin are moved in the slot in theother direction to cause the latch member to forcibly engage the keeperin latched position.

3. A latch construction comprising a rotatable latch member adapted tobe rotated into and out of latching engagement with a keeper, asupporting housing, a latch operating member pivotally mounted adjacentone end in the housing and provided with an arcuate slot adjacent itsother end, a compression spring engaging and spring-loading the otherend of the latch operating member for biasing said latch operatingmember and moving the latch member into latching engagement, means forpivotally mounting the latch member in the housing for rotation about afixed axis, toggle mechanism for connecting the latch operating memberto the latch member and consisting of a toggle link pivotally connectedat one end to the latch operating member and its other end movable overthe latch operating memher and this other end provided with a pinprojecting into the arcuate slot and pivotally connecting this other endto the latch member, and means for rotating the latch operating memberto compress the spring and move the toggle and latch member to unlatchedand cocked position in which the pin in the arcuate slot is disposed atone side of a plane connecting the pivotal mounting for the latch memberand the toggle link in the latch operating member, and trip means on thelatch member for rotating the latch member, toggle link and pin fromunlatched, cocked position to latching engagement in which the springsnaps the latch member into latching engagement and the pin is moved inthe arcuate slot to the other side of said plane.

4. In a latch construction for a refrigerator includ ing a latchassembly mounted on the door of the refrigerator and carrying a'pivotally mounted latch member for movement into and out of latchingengagement with a keeper on the cabinet of the refrigerator, said latchassembly consisting of a support mounted in the door, an actuatingmember pivotally mounted adjacent one end on said support and providedwith an arcuate slot, a latch member also pivotally mounted at one endon the support for rotation about a fixed axis and provided with alatching part at its other end adapted to be moved into and out oflatching engagement with the keeper and a laterally projecting armintermediate its ends, a toggle link between said actuating member andsaid arm with one end of the toggle link connected to said actuatingmember adjacent said slot and the other end carrying a pin pivotallyconnecting the toggle link with the arm on said latch member and movablein said arcuate slot in said actuating member, means for spring-biasingsaid actuating member to move the link into retracted position in theslot and the latch member into engagement with the keeper, and means formoving the actuating member whereby to move the toggle link to extendedposition in which it is in substantial alignment with said laterallyprojecting arm and the latch member to unlatched, cocked position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,136,662 Anderson Nov. 15, 1938 2,186,795 Anderson Ian. 9, 19402,662,790 Hogg Dec. 15, 1953 2,679,425 Johnson May 25, 1954

